Around the table full of food and drinks, the knights enjoy the dinner. In the last months the battles come one after another and most of them didn't see their homes from the beginning. Nobody moan about this, they serve as the King asked for the glory of England. Sigfried take another cup and stand up with a little difficulty. Next to him, Peterus shake his beard.
- Cheeeers!
The others salute Sigfried with a good laugh and continue to talk about the last battle. A guard interrupt the hearty meal:
- A messenger for Sir Ivanhoe! He says it's urgent!
The soldier enter the room, bow and wait the approval to speak. His lord, The Count of Wessex give it:
- Mylord, the captain of the guards catch an Irish spy. He travel without any suite and had no papers. It was locked up in the tower.
" That way the Irish repay the King kindness and English help!" think Sigfried. "But what can expect from them? I told Richard they don't deserve anything else but a a piece of English steel in their chests, but he didn't want to listen!"
- We will see what we will do with this one when we will come back in England! Sir Ivanhoe says.Now have a cup of wine, something to eat and take your breath. You had a long journey from Wessex till France.
The soldier leave it, but the atmosphere wasn't the same. They was for too long away from home and they start thinking to the ones who is waiting for them. It is obvious they need a break.
Not long time after that Richard I the Lion storm into the room.
- Sir Ivanhoe, you're disgrace!
Everybody knows he's short tempered, but he looks like a mad man and the knights concern about his mental health.
After the long drink, Sir Ivanhoe reflexes was dramatical slowed.He didn't manage to say anything when nobody understands why Richard is so angry..
- You're striped from all your ranks and domains, you're no longer Count of Wessex! continue Richard.
The King turn around and left the room, leaving behind an oppressive silence.
Bloody Irish..

Sigfried had an agitated sleep, an image didn't let him rest: an angry face come close to his, so close that he can feel the breath like a wind. In the beginning, Sigfried thought its the King's face, but after a while it seems more like Odin's face, without a word, just looking to him. After a few tries to fall asleep again, the knight give up, find a bucket with water and put his head inside a few times.
Even he is a stranger in England, King Richard keep him in high regard, give him the richest shire and ask for his opinion, even Sigfried is not good at all at intrigues and politics, he's a man of his axe, the best thing he knows is to jump where is more crowded on the battlefield and put his axe to work.
As is stands trying to figure out what's happen in the evening, the reasons behind and his dream, The Lord Councellor enter.
- I saw you're not sleeping.
It is obvious that Heinrich I need to talk with someone.
- I had a dream, more like a vision, but I will talk with Father Thomas about it. He always teach me and give me good advices.
- You will not be able to do that for a while, The King just send him to Rome.
- To Rome? says Sigfried wondering and his eyes become even bigger. Heinrich intend to keep his thoughts for himself, but Sigfried wondering made such a childish face that the Counsellor give up and start to speak:
- Dark clouds are gathering over Europe, my friend. The Holy Father is sickbed, people talk that he was poisoned and a hand of Cardinals took over the power, lead by Ronin. I know him well, he was a former English knight, there is no place in his soul for faith, peace and tranquility, except his ambitions. The Conclave is gathering to elect a new pope and I fear the worse. God have mercy of our souls if a man thirst of blood will be elected.
Sigfried need it a few moments to put his mind in order. He cannot understand how a person can rise the hand over the Ruler of Christianity!
- But who dare poison the pope? His soul will be damned for eternity!
- Qui prodest, my friend, qui prodest?
Heirich I shake his head and didn't want to say more, even he is aware Sigfried don't speak latin. For a while both of them maintain the silence, each with his thoughts.
- There isn't any hope then? I'm not good a prays, but I will do it every night before enter the bed.
The Councellor smile..
- We all should do that, because there is a person with god in his soul, a man of true faith who put everything on the line in order to serve the Church, even his high position of Grandmaster of Templars. But I'm a fraid that Ronin will do everything in his power to stop him, to not let him run in the elections. He will throw with mud over Knud den Store good name, using lies and false accusations to reach his purposes.
Sigfried caress his axe and The Councellor knew he lost him.
- I know you're more concerned about what happen last night!
- Everybody knows Sir Ivanhoe is a bit strict about the rules, but I don't understand his guilt. He was here with us, fa away of his shire, fought the battles and live like a good soldier.
- His captain of the guards emprisoned the Cancellor of Ireland, he looks like a spy to him.
- Well, release him, apologies and tell him he was a missunderstanding. No need to punish a good knight like Sir Ivanhoe, its obvious he's not guilty about the incident.
- I wish to be that simple my friend, but the Irish made an international incident from this and you know the vikings always look for a reason to send their longboats to our shores. They cannot forget that not long time ago they use to kill, burn and plunder our eastern coasts almost every month.
- But we helped the Irish, we build a port for them to easy travel, train with them, share our meals with them..
- The gratitude have short legs my dear Sigfried, you will learn that in time!
Bloody Irish..

The camp moved near shores and Sigfried assume they finally will go back in England. In the last 3 days the rain didn't stop and the morale of the troops dropped. More than that, Richard the Lion is nowhere to be found.
The time didn't heal the wounds in the Sigfried heart, the sea view still remember him the days when he was sold as slave on sicilian galeys.
" - Hey, Sigfried, care something to drink?"
Lord Argorian always have some fine drinks on him and Sigfried was more than happy that the best knight in England want to share with him a few drinks.
" - Nothing can make me more happy, Argorian. Thanks!"
The soldier's life is about fighting and follow the orders, nobody complain about that in the camp. They won every fight, but even it was easy ones with inexperienced french peasants, Sigfried aren't so sure about the result if they will fight again in the next morning..
" - Did you see the King Richard lately?"
" - Nope, but the guards says he left the camp with his full gear and his best friends and companions go with him, also full armed. I assume he wants to join the Crusade, when he is in good mood he always talk about this!"
The cold of the night falling and the rain touch them and he two knights come near the fire. Looking the limbs of the fire, Sigfried start thinking how Richard left the troops without saying a word. he notice the presence of the tall man cover by a black cloak only when Argorian salute him. He hurry up to do the same, to not look impolite.
" - What news from England, Sir John?"
John Plantagenet look at them a second with his big brown eyes:
" - Nothing that you already don't know! In the morning we will embark and go back to England. Be prepared!"
" - For England! Cheers!"
They finish the drink and go to their tents.

Ossex, 1th Regiment

Again on duty in the night on the castle walls! Even he barely manage to stay awake, the limbs of fire dancing on the horizon could not let him fall asleep in the duty guard. A woman start to scream at loud, making the darkness more frightening! The Norsemen debarked on the East coast, like thieves in the night and start to kill and plunder the fishermen's villages encountered. But this time they look more prepared, from what people says, there is more than a simple raid, it looks like an invasion. Siegfried start thinking what was happen after they leave the continent.. One day travel with the ships and they disembark on London. Everybody expect it to get a few days and visit their homes, but they did receive not even a single day to visit the Thames taverns! Also Sigfried didn't understand why the army was split in several regiments, weakening their force. Now he knows the commanders didn't bother to get correct informations, they just assume it is like always, a few raids of the Norsemen. He took his place in the 1st Regiment and move immediately to Ossex, in order to guard the castle. When he reach Ossex castle, he saw for the first time people who run from the East coast, most of them badly wounded. He spend almost all the day with them, unable to rest.He talk with them and tried to encourage them, but hardly manage to do that. From what people told him, an army like it never was, not only from Norsemen, but Germanic people and the people of the Ice come at once! What they are looking for?

From his post Sigfried watch how the sun go up slow but steady over the forests. It is his favorite hour of the day early in the morning, the light is so pure that you feel like nothing wrong could happen,it's almost a dream.
Tired to death, almost fall asleep when the the bell give the alarm! He turn a bit in the left and see them at the edge of the forest. Nothing frightening, just a band of warriors, making much noise with their weapons and their shields.. The trumpets announce the orders and Sigfried hurry up to the courtyard and take his place in the line.
Sir John inspect the troops, mount on his horse and say:
" - My fellow Englishmen, lets teach a lesson to this band of thieves and murderers !! Let's charge them and show how the true knights fight!! "
Some veterans start to murmur.. thieves and murderers yes, but not to be taken on easy! The Norsemen are fierce warriors, once you meet them it is hardly to forget! Better stay behind the walls and let the archers do the job, why risk an open fight? But the enemy seems to be outnumbered and the soldiers don't want to look like cowards.. Out of the castle, the sunshine reflect in their beautiful armors almost blind you and Sigfried feel so proud to be an English knight that his sense of danger vanish. From all the chests and hearts a single voice fill the air:
" For England!!
Marching faster and faster, with the trumpets calling the attack they almost reach the band of Norsemen who keep taunting them and hit their shields with the weapons.
The English army cover more than half the distance towards the enemy, when the Norsemen seems to beat in retreat. Somebody yell:
" - Look, they are running away!"
The English troops head forward at maximum speed in order to catch the runners.
Suddenly, from the edge of the forest, the enemy archers show their faces and a cloud of arrows come over the English knights charging. Nobody think of retreat, but even somebody think it, it was not longer possible, turning the head a bit in the right, Sigfried notice another pack of Norsemen, getting out of the forest and cut their retreat to the castle.
The clash didn't take place, in front of them the enemy split in two, half join the troops cutting their retreat and half protecting the archers. The English army stops in a moment of panic, with the forest in front and the Norsemen in their flanks. Some of them remain on the spot, waiting an order who delayed to be given and some throw themselves in a desperate attack on the archer's flank.
The light armor of Norsemen make them move faster and the English knights was butchered before reach them. The remain knights double back to the last position.
Sigfried draw his big axe and stay calm, waiting the attack. And here they come, with a frightening cry, decided to finish the Englishmen. The battle took some time, but it was obvious that the English knights without the space for the maneuver and with the flanks exposed will not stand for long.
His viking blood start to boil and Sigfried took everything in his path until he meet a giant. Well, Sigfried isn't a short one for sure, but the man in front was really tall, since Sigfried needs to look up to be able to look at his face.
It was the same face from his dream!!
" Odin !! " he yell from all his lungs angered, so loud that the nearby heads, Englishmen and Norsemen turn towards him. With the axe over his head he threw himself over the giant in a finishing blow, but the Norsemen pared and knock him back. Sigfried saw the big man axe moving..
He manage to dodge the first large blow, but the second one, a short move from up to down hit him in the shoulder. Even the hit was more sneaky than forceful, Sigfried fall on the ground. For a second he think it this is the end, but another blow didn't come. Badly hurt, he didn't manage to get on his feet again. He cannot feel the left arm anymore and the pain almost make him lose his conscience. Taking his breath, he start crawling and he needs all his will in order to cover the small distance between him and the forest. He collapse then and remain unconscious there for quite a while..
When he get his sense, it was almost dark. He looks on the field covered with bodies, most of them his friends. The loud screams of the people in the Ossex castle and the fire started after plundering reach him and after a few tries, he rise with difficulty in the knees. With the head in his hands, Sigfried start blubber for his people like he never did.

Miles shake his head and eat what left from his ration..the stomach revolted once more.. a bit of loaf and some dried meat again! In the good days of king Richard the rations was enough to saturate the big man and put something aside for his family! They are starving now!
Miles isn't a noble by birth, his father struggle in the wool trade between paying the taxes and assure his family a decent meal!
One more hour until he will be on duty as guard on the castle walls! Usually Miles go to see his wife and the kids, but now with no food remain to give them, he end up in the tavern.
Miles drink his beer with a dumb face, without being disturbed by his nosy companion at the table.
" - A beer for my friend here! ask the cloaked man. Miles approve with a head movement, he feels that he had enough beer, but could not refuse one more!
" - Cheers!! For pride and honor! For the king!" toast the cloaked man.
" - Cheers!! Cheers!!" reply Miles and hurry to drink, since not much time left until his shift will begin.
" - But you don't toast for the king, our savior?" says the cloaked man, intrigued.
" - What do we care about pride and honor when we are starving? What do we care about the king and his false ambitions to conquer Ireland, when our shires are full of outlaws and bandits? The country is a ruin, no more commerce, we are bleeding without any fight!"
Miles looks terrified around. It was he who says that, who spoke against the king? He definitely drinks too much, but now he feel wide awake and scared to not end up hanging at the end of a rope next morning!
He throw a "thanks for the drink" with a low voice and make haste out of the tavern.
The Sigfried's decision was made: he will accept the Ireland peace proposal and leave the throne!

While putting the documents in order, some notes from the times when he was an younger knight slipped away.
Gregory took it and start to read it with curiosity, like written by another person.

- Did you heard the news? St. Thomas was forced to repeat.

Gregory had to come back from his younger days by his adviser insistence..

The changes in the Irish government.. Molly is gone, ex-regent, Tristan and Welf are in charge now.

"Finally the rotten wrench was removed, but after she did so much harm! The damage was done with her spitting on two nations efforts to heal the rift between and trying to have a new beginning."

It will take ages to recover what Molly breaks with her foolish words and actions, her inability and lack of knowledges and Gregory isn't sure that shall happen during his life-time.

"Why on Earth people think they are just perfect, when with their poor actions and the lack of basic grasp of knowledges for such a position did so much harm on what others build with so many efforts?
Why on Earth such limited people use to think they are the center of the Universe while the others are only ants on their feet? Well, I suppose I will never know.."

- We don't know what will change this in Ireland external politics reply Gregory and go back to the younger times from the notes..

- Do you know who lead the Mordvins and Petschenegs army? says Gregory with the eyes on the map.

- It's the famous Black Jack, sire. He have quite a reputation..

Absorbed by the movement plans of the army, Gregory give only a "Mmmm", waiting for more from his confessor and adviser.

- In his former days of glory, he dare to revolt against the Byzantine Empire and challenge their despotic ways. Still the bravery was not enough, the lack of diplomacy skills put him in face of an alliance Byzantium made with Arabs in order to kill the rebels.

- Are you sure? In his eyes, like in the eyes of all good Christian western nations, an alliance with unfaithful against another Christian nation is something inconceivable.

- Yes, sire! Unfortunately that's the way things was done and rebel nations of Mordvinia and Petschenegs was almost wiped out. The Byzantines and their Arab allies was merciless, imprison and torture Black Jack and his brave warriors, plunder and burn to the ground their defenseless shires and took their people in slavery. That was the moment they lost their faith in the true God and embrace the pagan god Dagon.

- How was that possible? Why nobody protest to such atrocities against Christians?

St. Thomas rise his shoulders..
- News from this part of the world reach us after a while, by the time we find out the damage was done.

- So, this is the reason Black Jack come over western lands, in his eyes we betray him and he is here to punish us for such a cowardly thing. Already start to like this man, so proud and still had to endure such humiliating fate.
I will send a letter asking him to reconsider, he definitely deserve a chance..

Gregory leave the strategical map, took a quill and start to write:

QUOTE:
To the King Black Jack:

Dear Black Jack, King of Mordvins and Petschenegs..

*Closing the rift*

Heading for the troops inspection Gregory could not remove the weight pressing his chest. How could be able to do that when looking at the burned ground, the smoke from what was trees once, no living been, human or animal all the way till there not to be seen and down to the hill the monsters armies make the air tremble with strange and scary noises.

The king dismount, need to be closer to his men, step slowly while looking in each knight eyes. There isn't such thing as fear for an English Knight, they are not wavering, but Gregory decide to remove any doubt about the outcome of the battle from their hearts. He step aside and dress his voice:

QUOTE:
There isn't greater honor in the world other than to be an English Knight. I'm proud to be an English Knight in the same way you are and proud of you!

Today we will not fight only against men, but against demons and foul creatures this men, the devil's servants no doubt, manage to spawn with black magic help. We are here at God's Will and God's Will Shall Be Done!
With God's help we must prevail, because there is nothing can stop those monsters to invade the world if we fail today!

English Knights, prepare to battle!

As a single voice, For England! from all chests and the knights start moving in formation. Gregory mount and move in the same line.
Nothing compare with English Knights charging and there isn't any army in the world who could stand against them, no steel can beat them, because faith is their armor, honor is their weapon and they fight for God and England!

Faster, faster and faster.. the clash make the earth tremble. They push back the enemy that they can see the rift now. Demons and other foul creatures keep coming from that hell hole managing to stop the English army in the end.
A giant demon seems to be their leader move from their ranks heading towards Gregory. Even the king parry with the shield, the demon's blow knock him down and throw him a few yards away.
To the ground, Gregory can hear demon's big steps, moving for the kill and put all his efforts to rise on the feet. The axe was lost, no other weapon available.. the king rise the head and look at the demon.
The monster face resembling Charles Hart figure, the same sarcastic smile, maybe except the horns come so close that Gregory can feel the stinking breath.
Almost without knowing what's he's doing, the King of England rise the cross almost touching the demon's ugly red face and suddenly a light from the skies strike the foul monster making him ashes.

"My life it's yours God, you who can read the people's hearts know that.

With their leader destroyed, the monster's army fall back and now Gregory is heading directly to the rift.
A blow in the left shoulder make him tossing and hang on for a moment, but it was NeiMerci von Hochburg who give him a hand and push forward. Like a lion Bavi open the path while Shirak and Omzog take care of the flanks. In a heroic attempt to breach their lines, Le Petit throw himself forward in the enemy lines, but he was bought down. One after another, the English Knights move forward and face the monsters.

Despite countless blows, Gregory keep moving towards the rift, only short moments stop to gain his breath.
He don't defend himself anymore, but fall in the knees just a few steps away of the rift.
With the last resorts, he step up and move forward, one step at the time, unarmed. His blood mark the way he advanced and it was no doubt that his faith keep him up, not the body strength.

Almost there, falling, Gregory put the cross clenched with the fingers in the middle of the rift, closing it.
He felt unconscious.

It was already dark when Gregory wake up and look at the battlefield. None of his knights stands up, but also any demon alive. Try to rise up, but it was impossible. The king was crying like a baby and almost losing his minds start crawling and searching between the bodies:

" Bavi, my Champion, where are you? Faithful NeiMerci, Gullit, Omzog please say something.. Shirak are you there?"

"Em here sire, says Le Petit, was gone to find some water.."

"But.. but I saw you falling, that's impossible. Am I dreaming?"

"Was buried by the monster's bodies, sire. No big harm, just could not stand for the smell"

"Crazy ol scoundrel!"Gregory start laughing. "But the others?"

"Just a bit aside, sire, they could not take the smell either. Also force me to find some water to clean the stinkin odor get when was buried by their bodies."

"Hahaha.. crazy English Knights! You're me Heroes!"

Once more the World was saved.